Airplane



Nov. 10, 1925 F. RIES AIRPLANE 'Filed Jan. 29, 19125 Patented Nov, 10,1925.

UNITED sT-ATEs FREDERICK BIES, F COMPTON, CALIFORNIA.

. AIRPLANE.

g Application led January 29, l1925. Serial No. 5,439.

To all 'whom it may conc-cm- Be it known that I, FREDERICK Ruis, citizenof the United States, residing at Compton, in the county of Los Angelesand State .5 of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Airplanes, of which the following is a specification. lf

My invention relates to airplanes, and has for its principal object, thegeneral improve- Ll.) ment of the existing forms of airplanes, and toprovide relatively simple and efficient' means for increasing the safetyof the occupants of the airplane, particularly in the event that themain propeller` and its driving motor fail to function properly duringflight. Further objects of my invention are, to provide one of the wingsof an airplane (preferably the upper wing) with an auxiliary wingmember, that may be shifted into 2') a position of service at the willof the operator so as to materially increase the surface area of thewing and consequently increasing its sustaining effect and, further, toarrange beneath the upper wing or the one that is .5 equipped with-.theauxiliary member, a rotary fan which, when operated, draws air from alldirections into the space beneath the wing and forcibly directs blastsof alr upwardly against the underside of. the wing, the manner o f aparachute and enabling the airplane to be brought to a safe landing byits operator.l i

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists incertain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts thatwill be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated inthe accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 1s a plan view of my improved airplane with parts thereof brokenaway and in 1 section.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view with parts broken away and in section.

Referringby numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate apractical embodiment of my invention, 10 designates the body or fuselageof a byplane, 11, the lower plane or wing, 12, the upper plane or wing,13, the propeller that is mounted at the forward end of the body 10 andwhich is driven by a suitable motor 14.

I n equipping this type of airplane with my improved safety devices, apocket 15 is formed in the front portion of the upper thereby causingthe latterto function after` the pocket so that said auxiliary wingpro-y jects a substantial distance in front of wing 12 as shown bydotted lines, Fig. 1. r

Auxiliary wing 16 is prevented from moving entirely out of its pocket15.by a rib 19 on its rear edge and which rib is adapted to engage ashoulder 20v at vthe forward edge of the pocket 15.

When the auxiliary wing is positioned within its pocket 15, the coilsprings 18 are compressed within recesses 17 and said auxiliary wing isretained in its retracted position bya suitable latch 21, that may bereleased by a pull or cord 22, and which latter extends downward intothe fuselage to a point where it may be conveniently engaged by theoperator. f

Journalled in suitable bearings in the forward portion of body 10 is avertically disposed shaft 23 that is driven from a suitable motor 24 andthe upper end of said shaft carries a fan 25. This fan is constructed sothat when rotated at high speed it draws air4 into the 'space beneathupper wing 12 and forcibly directs said air upwardly against theunderside of said wing and against the underside of the auxiliary wing16 when the latter is projected forwardly from its pocket During flight,and Awhile propeller 13 and motor 14V are functioning properly,auxiliary wing 16 occupies a position within its pocket and motor 24 isout so that fan 25 Vis at rest.

If for any cause, during flight motor 14 and propeller 13 fail tofunction properly, the operator, in order to prevent a sudden descent tothe ground, pulls rod or cable 22 .to disengage hook 21 and releaseauxiliary wing 16 and at the same time starts motor 24 so as to rotatefan 25 at high speed.

As auxiliary wing 16 is thus released, the expansive power of springs 18act instantly to throw said wing forward so that it prothe appendedclaims.

jects beyond the front edge of wing 12, thereby providing a sustainingwing of considerable area and the large volume of air directed againstthe underside of this plane or Wing by fan 25 produces a sustainingeffect that Will enable the operator of vthe .airplane to glide ortraverse a gradually inclined path downward to the ground andconsequently' make a safe landing.

The usual rudders at the rear end of the machine are utilized in theordinary manner for guiding the airplane vertically and laterally duringflight andthe weight of the rear portion of thev airplane body and thefuel. oil stored in reservoirs therein counterbalances the extra weightofthe motor 24, fan 25 and auxiliary wing 16. When auxiliary Wing 16 isopen or in service, it colnbines with upper wing 12 in forming arelatively large sustaining plane similar to a flattened parachute andthe fan 267 when operated drives a relatively large amount ot' airupwardly against said plane, thereby tending to create a lifting effectto counteract'the tendency of the plane to drop or descend at dangerousspeed. i

Obviously minor changes in the size, form and construction of thevarious parts -of my improved airplane maybe made and substituted forthose herein shown and described without departing from the` spirit ofthe invention, the scope of which is set forth in normally. containedwithin said pocket and I compression springs arranged in the rearportion of said pocket and bearing against the rear edge of saidauxiliary wing.

2. The combination with an airplane main wing provided in its forwardportion with a pocket that extends practically the entire length of saidWing; of an auxiliary wing normally contained Within said pocket.,compression springs arranged in the rear port-ion otl said pocket andbearing against the rear edge of said auxiliary wing, and readilyreleasable latching means for holding said auxiliary wing within saidpocket.

3. The combination with an airplane main wing provided in its forwardportionl with a pocketthat extends practically the entire length of saidwing; of an auxiliary wing normally contained within said pocket,compression springs arranged in the rear portion of said pocket andbearing against the rear edge of said auxiliary wing and a fan mountedfor operation on thebody of the plane and arranged to drive air upwardlyagainst the undersides of the main and auxiliary Wings. Y Y

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

FREDERICK RIES.

